Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Japan, Volume XXIII, Part 1

98. Telegram From the Embassy in Japan to the Department of State¹

Tokyo, September 4, 1956—1 p.m.

551. Department telegram 482.² Consider general approach and content excellent but have following comments:

Suggest opening clause of aide-mémoire refer with more precision to fact of Japanese initiative in making request to Secretary and to relationship of request to San Francisco Treaty, which relationship of course gives us legitimate grounds for comment.

Inclusion of third paragraph in aide-mémoire would expose US in Japan to charge of fighting cold war here and, in my opinion, would be counter-productive. These statements, while fully valid, are best said by Japanese themselves and this paragraph would better be part of oral presentation in point (d) with additional suggestion to Japanese by us that authoritative Japanese spokesmen make these points clearly themselves.

Fear reference to reservation of rights in paragraph 5 will provoke new round of charges that our innermost intention is to seek device to claim permanent possession Ryukyus. If any reference this point nevertheless considered essential, suggest it be handled by deleting last sentence paragraph 5 and inclusion in oral statement along broadened lines such as “in opinion of U.S. none of signatories of San Francisco Treaty would be bound to accept any action this character and they would be entitled reserve all their rights.”

On timing, assume point (e) in oral presentation can be interpreted as response to Kishi and Nemoto requests (Embtel 530)³ for consultation as to timing and content of any statement. Simultaneous approach to Japanese Embassy Washington might well lead to confusion and increase possibility premature leak. Recommend therefore approach in Tokyo only, allowing me to control timing in consultation with Japanese leaders who in best position make judgments in light rapidly developing crisis described by tel 550.⁴ After discussion with Japanese, would coordinate timing public release with Department.⁵

Allison

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 661.941/9–456. Secret; Niact.
2. In telegram 482, September 3, the Department relayed to the Embassy the texts of the proposed aide-mémoire and oral statement, both supra, and requested the Embassy’s comments on the two drafts. (Department of State, Central Files, 661.941/9–356)
3. See footnote 3, Document 95.
4. In telegram 550, September 3, Allison reported that Shigemitsu had returned to Japan to “face political storm”. The Ambassador stressed the necessity for careful coordination with Japanese leaders and with the Embassy of any public statement on the Japanese-Soviet negotiations: “Whatever we say or do could be seized upon by press and politicians here and distorted to serve their own ends.” He continued: “I therefore hope Secretary can give priority consideration this problem as soon as he returns to Washington. (Department of State, Central Files, 661.941/9–356)
5. In a September 4 memorandum to the Secretary, Robertson stated he had prepared new drafts of the aide-mémoire and the oral statement in accordance with the suggestions in telegram 551, “most of which have been adopted. Ambassador Allison suggested that paragraph three of the aide-mémoire be omitted because it involves us in fighting the cold war in Japan. I do not agree.” A marginal note in an unidentified hand indicates that Robertson discussed the new drafts with Dulles that day. (Ibid., 661.941/9–456) The new drafts have not been found in Department of State files.